Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick has opened up about the difficult period he endured after suffering an injury that kept him sidelined for several months.
Fredrick sustained the injury after Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign and subsequently faced a lengthy rehabilitation spell.
Brentford confirmed in July that the 21-year-old had been promoted to the club’s first-team squad and signed a new four-year contract, with an option for another year.
Reflecting on the setback, Fredrick admitted that he was particularly frustrated because of how the injury occurred.
“I got injured after the last World Cup qualifiers against Congo. When I went back to my club, I got injured in training. So, I was very disappointed and angry with myself,” Fredrick told Festus Dada.
“I was angry with myself because of the way I got injured. I was supposed to just let the ball go, but unfortunately, I tried to stop it and got injured. So, I was angry with myself and disappointed.”
The defender said watching the Super Eagles prepare for their Afcon campaign helped motivate him during his recovery.
“But watching the Super Eagles, watching everyone going to the Afcon, motivates me that I can still come back better and be with the team again. So, it has been a very difficult month,” he added.
Fredrick also acknowledged the support he received from those around him during his rehabilitation.
“The last six months have been very difficult for me, but I have been motivating myself. My family and friends have also been encouraging me that I will come back better.”
His return has already seen him included in Brentford’s first-team setup, with the defender named among the substitutes against Chelsea on September 18.
Describing the experience, Fredrick said, “It’s been a pleasure. You know, it’s a dream to be in a Premier League squad, being on the bench, watching players you’ve been watching when you were young, being there with them. It’s a pleasure and a great feeling for me as well.”
He identified Fábio Carvalho and Antoni Milambo as the teammates who have brought him closer to the senior group.
Wale Adejumo
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